5 Proven Ways to Land Clients as a Freelance Interior Designer in 2025

A modern transitional living space with elegant sheer drapery and warm wood textures — a reminder that thoughtful details define every successful interior project.

Introduction

If you're freelancing as an interior designer—especially in markets like the U.S., Canada, UK, or Australia—you’ve probably hit that frustrating lull: you’re ready to work, but no projects are calling. I’ve been there. Over the years, I learned that landing clients isn’t about luck—it’s about consistent actions. This guide walks you through five strategies that still work in 2025, grounded in real-world trials, Reddit conversations, and design industry wisdom. Along the way, I’ll show you how a trade membership (like ours) can become one of your strongest tools to win clients.

1. Define & Own Your Niche

One of the biggest mistakes new freelancers make is trying to appeal to everyone. That spreads your marketing thin and confuses potential clients.

Why niche helps

• You become the “go-to” person for a specific problem.

• Messaging is easier: your ideal clients see themselves in your content.

• It helps with referrals and repeat business—people remember you for that one thing.

For example, in a Reddit thread, one designer said:

“Take on small projects, document them for your portfolio (before and after) … use them to land the next slightly larger gig.”
— r/InteriorDesign Discussion

That’s a niche in action: focusing on small projects gives you a clear start. Eventually, you can expand.

How to pick your niche

• Look at your strengths or preferences—maybe you're great at window treatments, or small-space layouts.

• Review what clients commonly ask you.

• Test small and refine.

Soft integration with Tailorin Hub
Let’s say your niche is window treatment–focused interiors (Roman shades, layered curtains, specialty blinds). You can highlight to prospects that as a designer with trade access, you can pass on cost savings to them. “I work with a trade partner that gives me wholesale access to custom Roman shades—so your dreamy windows don’t get killed by budget.”

2. Leverage Word-of-Mouth & Referrals

Referrals are gold, especially when you're solo. Most clients are more comfortable hiring someone recommended by a friend or former client.

Key tactics

• After every project, ask “Who else do you know who might need help?”

• Incentivize referrals (small discount or design credit)

• Send periodic updates or newsletters to past clients to stay top of mind

In Mydoma Studio’s article on attracting clients, they emphasize:

“Don’t forget to put your name out there and nurture your email list … stay in touch with past clients … hit up your past clients, email list contacts, and get your name out there.”
— Mydoma Studio Blog

A referral that says, “My designer gave me custom Roman shades at a price I couldn’t get elsewhere” can be a powerful testimonial.

Spaces that feel inviting tend to get people talking — and great design referrals often start in rooms like this.

3. Publish Content That Builds Trust & SEO

Clients rarely hire someone they’ve never seen in action. Content is how you show your thinking.

Types of content that attract clients

• Before/after project posts – show your process, challenges, and outcomes

• How-tos & walkthroughs – e.g. “How to choose window treatments for a kitchen”

• Problem-solution articles – address common questions (e.g. “Why is my quote so high?”)

• Client stories or case studies – people love stories

Rayon Design’s recent guide does exactly this, walking new designers through marketing, positioning, and scaling their brand.
👉 Read the reference guide

SEO pointers

• Use keywords like “freelance interior designer clients”, “how to get design clients 2025”, “interior design lead generation”.

• Write in sections with clear subheaders (lists, steps) to grab “featured snippet” traffic.

• Include FAQs at the end (covering related long-tail queries).

Soft integration with Tailorin
One content idea: “Case Study: How I Used Trade Access to Win a Window-Heavy Project.” Walk through how offering a better window treatment solution (using your trade membership) became a deciding factor in the pitch.

A small change, big difference — custom Roman shades bring both function and refinement to this bright entryway.

4. Partner with Real Estate Agents, Builders & Contractors

Freelancers often think clients come only through direct marketing, but partnerships can deliver steady referrals.

Why this works

• These professionals already receive leads from homeowners doing remodels.

• If they trust your work, they may refer you directly.

• Joint promotions or bundled services can offer extra value.

Example tactic

• Offer a discount or commission to realtors who refer you

• Co-market: e.g. you design their staging interiors, they promote your services

• Be the “go-to designer” for their listing renovations

This strategy shows up in many articles for growing interior designers, such as “How to Get More Interior Design Clients in 2025” by Dakota Design.
👉 Dakota Design Company Blog

5. Make Your Trade Membership a Selling Point

Most designers view trade programs as backend benefit, but you can turn it into a client-facing advantage.

How to market it to prospects

• Position trade access as your secret weapon to deliver better quality at lower cost.

• Mention that you can source premium products (e.g. custom Roman shades) at prices not available to retail clients.

• Use a dedicated slide or line in your proposal: “Client-exclusive pricing via trade network, passed on to you.”

Example pitch snippet

“Because I’m a trade-member designer, I can offer you custom Roman shades for a fraction of typical retail markups—it’s one way I maximize your budget while keeping design integrity.”

See how the membership works

Designers know the impact of the right textile — a patterned Roman shade can transform even the simplest color scheme into something bespoke.

Pitching & Workflow: Turning Leads into Signed Projects

It’s one thing to attract a lead. It’s another to convert them.

Best practices

• Respond quickly—within 24 hours.

• Use a structured lead intake form (ask about budget, timeline, desired deliverables).

• Offer a brief paid discovery call (15–30 min) for serious clients.

• Present a clear proposal with scope, deliverables, timeline, cost, and trade-rate breakouts.

• Set expectations up front about revisions, add-ons, change requests.

A recurring mistake found in blogs: early freelancers give “free design previews” or change requests without guardrails, leading to scope creep.
👉 Read about common client mistakes

Conclusion

Landing clients as a freelance interior designer in 2025 is less about chasing every lead and more about focused work—defining your niche, building trust through content, partnering strategically, and using trade access as your edge.

If you’re ready to see how trade membership can actually help you win window-heavy design projects (without compromising margins), I’d love to walk you through how we’ve helped dozens of designers do just that.

The right mix of light, texture, and wood detail — where design precision meets lived-in warmth.

FAQs

Can I get clients without a portfolio?
Yes. Start with small gigs—e-design, styling assignments, or pro bono local work. Document them carefully, take good photos, and use them to attract bigger clients.

What’s a fair design fee for small projects?
It depends on scope, location, and your experience. Begin with a base hourly rate or flat project fee and include product markups, install fees, and your trade margin.

How many clients should I aim for at once?
For most solos, 2–4 active design projects at a time is reasonable (plus maybe 1–2 smaller consults). Too many and quality suffers.

Author:

Jam Brown is the Director of Designer Relations at Tailorin Hub. After years working as a freelance interior designer in the U.S., he now focuses on helping designers streamline sourcing, reduce costs, and turn leads into projects.